JOSHUA, the NEW LEADER Deuteronomy 34:1-8; Joshua 1:1-9

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

JOSHUA, the NEW LEADER Deuteronomy 34:1-8; Joshua 1:1-9 JOSHUA, THE NEW LEADER Deuteronomy 34:1-8; Joshua 1:1-9 STRUCTURE Key-person: Joshua Key-location: Mount Pisgah on the east bank of the Jordan River, across from Canaan Key-repetitions: • Moses’ death (Deut 34:5, 7; Jos 1:1, 2). • Land promised: to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Deut 34:4); to ancestors of Israel (Jos 1:6-8); to Moses (Jos 1:3); to Israelites (Jos 1:2); to Joshua (Jos 1:3). • Be strong and courageous (Jos 1:6, 7, 9). • God would be with Joshua: just as he was with Moses (Jos 1:5); wherever Joshua went (Jos 1:9). • Book of the Law of Moses: obey everything Moses taught (Jos 1:7); don’t turn away from it (Jos 1:7); never stop reciting the teachings (Jos 1:8); think about them day and night (Jos 1:8); obey everything in it (Jos 1:8). • Orders given to Joshua: get ready to lead Israel (Jos 1:2); be strong and courageous (Jos 1:6, 9); obey Law of Moses (Jos 1:7-8); don’t be afraid; don’t get discouraged (Jos 1:9). Key-attitudes: • Respect for Moses. • Israelites’ grief at Moses’ death. • God’s challenge to Joshua to replace Moses as leader. Initial-situation: Forty years had passed since the incident when Moses sent twelve men to spy out the Promised Land. The spies returned, and ten gave a bad report about giants in the land. Two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, argued that since the Lord was with them, the Israelites could conquer the land. The Israelites listened to the ten negative spies, complained and wanted to return to Egypt. God declared a punishment for their unbelief. Those who were over twenty years old and lacked faith would wander in the wilderness for forty years until they were all dead. Moses, Aaron, Caleb, and Joshua were the only ones who believed God would give them the land. However, Moses and Aaron were not allowed to enter the land. The forty years of wilderness wandering had passed. The Israelites were camped along the east bank of the Jordan River. On the other side of the river was Canaan, the land the Lord had promised them. Initial-problem: Moses, the Lord’s servant died. Key Bible Stories: Joshua, the New Leader © Jackson Day 1 Final-situation: The Lord God promised to be with Joshua every step he took. BIBLE STORY Moses’ Death Moses climbed Mount Pisgah, which is on the east side of the Jordan River from Jericho. The Lord showed Moses the land of Canaan that would soon belong to the Israelites. The Lord told Moses, “This is the land I promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that I would give to their descendants. I let you see it, but you will not cross the Jordan River to enter it. Moses, the Lord’s servant died. The Lord buried him, but no one knows exactly where. Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was good and his body strong (Deut 34:1-8). The Israelites mourned and grieved thirty days for Moses. Joshua Becomes the New Leader The Lord told Moses’ assistant, Joshua, “Moses my servant is dead. Get ready to lead Israel across the Jordan River into the land I’m giving to all of you. I’ll give you every place where you set your foot, just as I promised Moses. I was with Moses, and in the same way, I will be with you. I will never abandon you. No one will be able to defeat you. “Be strong; be courageous! You will lead these people to inherit the land I promised to give to their ancestors. Be strong; be courageous. “Obey all the law my servant Moses gave you. Never turn away from Moses’ law. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Never stop reciting these teachings. Think about this Book of the Law day and night. Obey everything written in it. Then you will succeed wherever you go. “I have commanded you: ‘Be strong; be courageous; don’t be afraid; don’t get discouraged. The Lord your God is with you every step you take’” (Jos 1:1-9). GENERIC DIALOGUE QUESTIONS 1. What catches your attention in the story? 5. How did the characters face their 2. Is there anything in the story that is hard problems? to understand? 6. How have you faced similar problems? 3. Who are the main characters in the story? 7. Is there someone in the story who is 4. What problems did the characters face? similar to you or who is different from you? 8. What does the story tell about God? SPECIFIC DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What did the Lord tell Moses before his death? 2. How did Moses die? 3. What promises did God give Moses? 4. What did God tell Joshua after Moses died? Key Bible Stories: Joshua, the New Leader © Jackson Day 2 5. What promises did God give Joshua? 6. What instructions did the Lord give Joshua, the new leader of the Israelites? 7. What conditions did God establish for Joshua to be successful? 8. Which of those conditions would help us to be successful? LIFE-LESSONS 1. The person who has faithfully served God but chooses to disobey clear commands from God will be punished. Moses had faithfully served God for almost forty years as he led the Israelites. But on one occasion, God ordered Moses to speak to a rock for it to pour out water. Instead, Moses struck the rock two times with his staff. As a result, Moses was not allowed to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land (Num 20:2-13; Deut 34:4). 2. Assisting a leader is excellent preparation for becoming a leader. Joshua was Moses’ assistant before he replaced Moses as leader (Jos 1:1). Joshua assisted Moses since he sent Joshua to fight the Amalekites (Ex 17:8-13). When Moses climbed the mountain to receive instructions from the Lord, Joshua was at his side (Ex 24:13). 3. When God takes away one spiritual leader, he will replace him with another. When Moses died, the Israelites lost their leader; but God replaced him with Joshua (Jos 1:2-5). 4. God’s guidelines for success include to be strong and courageous, and to take seriously God’s word. The Lord told Joshua: to be strong and courageous; to obey all of God’s law; constantly read and study the Book of the Law, God’s word (Jos 1:3-9). 5. God’s presence enables people to experience success in carrying out his mission. Joshua’s success depended on the Lord being with Joshua (Jos 1:5, 9). In the same way, Christ’s presence enables his followers to achieve their mission (Mat 28:18-20; Mk 16:15, 20; Ac 1:8). 6. God’s presence enables his servants to face difficult challenges. God’s presence enabled Joshua to face new challenges (Jos 1:5, 9). Today, God’s servants may not conquer nations, but they do face demanding challenges, tough situations, difficult people, and strong temptations. God’s presence enables them to face and conquer life’s challenges. Key Bible Stories: Joshua, the New Leader © Jackson Day 3 LEARNING ACTIVITIES Interaction with Characters in the Story: Invite listeners to interact with characters in the story with a question. What would you like to say: • To Moses on Mount Pisgah getting ready to die? • To the Israelites who are mourning the death of their leader Moses? • To the new leader Joshua? Key Bible Stories: Joshua, the New Leader © Jackson Day 4.
Recommended publications
  • Messianic Bible Basics: How the Sword of the Spirit Was Forged J
    12 Tammuz, 5780 (04/07/20) Messianic Bible Basics: How the Sword of the Spirit was Forged J. M. Terrett Chukat/Balak Ordinance of/ Destroyer Setting the Stage for the Conquest of Canaan Torah: Numbers 19:1-22:1/Numbers 22:2-25:9 Haftarah: Judges 11:1-33/Micah 5:6-6:8 Brit Chadashah: John 3:10-21/Romans 11:25-32 Today is a double Torah Portion and the first portion deals with the big detour our people made around Edom, Moab and Ammon, before they arrived at their final staging point before they crossed the Jordan into Canaan. The second portion deals with Balak's unsuccessful attempt to get Balaam to curse Israel. Chapter 19 deals with the ritual of the Red Heifer and it actually occurs later in the account, after the death of Aaron. The chapter mentions Eleazar, the son of Aaron, as the priest who supervises the ritual. Now that Israel is going to conquer Canaan, they need a means to deal with ritual defilement, so as not to defile the land they are about to take possession of. A careful reading of Joshua, reveals that he crucified 31 kings, in order to remove the curse from the land and transform it from Canaan to the Holy Land. Our Messiah died on the cross, to cleanse creation from the curse of sin and we also need to learn how to be cleansed from any defilement we contract in our own lives. Red Heifer in Hebrew is Paran Adamah and means Adam's cow.
    [Show full text]
  • Biblecommentaryonjosh Uaandjudges
    When God Ruled Israel A Study of Joshua and Judges by Gary C. Hampton Lesson 1 A Prophet Like None Other Deuteronomy 34 It took the death of Moses to evoke the words which serve as our title today. Ironically, that death marks the beginning of Israel's path into the promised land. Moses had to lay down the mantel of leadership and Joshua take it up for God's people to enter Canaan. When the people arrived at Kadesh in Numbers 20, they murmured against God and his leaders. Moses and Aaron went before God to learn what he would have them to do in response to the complaints. God told them to take the rod, assemble the people and speak to the rock. Moses rebuked the people instead of speaking to the rock. He also struck the rock twice and left the impression that he and Aaron were solely responsible for providing water for the people (Psalm 106:33). The two brothers had failed to sanctify God in their actions, though he was sanctified when he swiftly punished the two leaders for their wrong deeds. Moses and Aaron acted like unbelievers when they failed to follow God's will exactly as he had directed, so God denied them an entrance to the promised land. Moses pleaded with God to let him go into the promised land to see the end of the works he had begun in delivering the people from Egypt. Moses told the people, "But the Lord was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me.
    [Show full text]
  • Please Let Me Cross the Jordan River! Let Me See the Wonderful Promised Land, the Beautiful Hills, and the Mountains of Lebanon Across the Jordan
    MOSES’ DEATH IN TORAH AND MIDRASH: SACRED STAGES OF THE MYSTERY OF DYING DEATH OF MOSES IN TORAH Please let me cross the Jordan River! Let me see the wonderful Promised Land, the beautiful hills, and the mountains of Lebanon across the Jordan. But God was angry at me, and he would not listen. God angrily told me, “That is enough! Do not speak to Me any more about My decision.” (Deut. 3:25-26). “You can climb to top of Mount Pisgah, and look west, north, south, and east. Take a good look” - but nothing more: “because you will not cross the Jordan River.” [Joshua not Moses will bring the people into the Land.] (Deut. 3:27-28). I must die on this side of the Jordan River, but you will be the ones to cross over and occupy the Promised Land (Deut. 4:22). Climb Mount Avarim, to Mount Nebo, in the land of Moab, facing Jericho; and see the land of Canaan, I am giving the Israelites as an inheritance; You will die on the mountain that you are climbing, and be gathered to your people... you shall see the land from afar; but you shall not go there to the land... (Deut. 32: 49-50; 52) So Moses, Adonai’s servant, at His command died there in the land of Moab. Adonai buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, near Beth-Peor. No one even to this day, knows the place where he was buried. Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, but his eyes were sharp and he was still strong and healthy (Deut.
    [Show full text]
  • Chukat - Balak
    Chukat - Balak CHUKAT The Parsha opens with an explanation of the purification process if someone becomes impure from being in the same house as a dead body (or from touching a dead body). A pure Parah Adumah (Red Heifer) was slaughtered and burned outside the camp and its ashes were mixed with water from a running stream. Then, its ashes were sprinkled over the impure person on the 3rd and 7th days of his impurity. At the end of the seventh day, he had to go to immerse himself in a Mikvah, and only then was he considered spiritually pure again. As part of the punishment for the sin of the Meraglim (spies), Bnei Yisrael were to wander the desert for an additional 40 years. Thirty-eight years had now passed and everyone from the generation of the Meraglim had since died. Once the 40th year began, they headed back toward Kadesh once again. It is at this time that Miriam died. When Miriam died, the well of water that had been Bnei Yisrael’s water supply disappeared. In their thirst, Bnei Yisrael complained harshly to Moshe and spoke negatively against him. Hashem told Moshe and Aharon that a miracle would happen: All they would have to do was speak to a specific rock, and then water would flow from it. But Moshe got so frustrated with the people’s disrespect that he hit the rock instead of talking to it. Hashem was angry at Moshe because he went against His order and did so in front of all of the Bnei Yisrael.
    [Show full text]
  • Deuteronomy 34
    Deuteronomy 34 compiled and written by Gary Kukis Deuteronomy 34:1–12 Moses’ Final Days/Joshua, His Replacement These studies are designed for believers in Jesus Christ only. If you have exercised faith in Christ, then you are in the right place. If you have not, then you need to heed the words of our Lord, Who said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten [or, uniquely-born] Son, so that every [one] believing [or, trusting] in Him shall not perish, but shall be have eternal life! For God did not send His Son into the world so that He should judge the world, but so that the world shall be saved through Him. The one believing [or, trusting] in Him is not judged, but the one not believing has already been judged, because he has not believed in the Name of the only-begotten [or, uniquely-born] Son of God.” (John 3:16–18). “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life! No one comes to the Father except through [or, by means of] Me!” (John 14:6). Every study of the Word of God ought to be preceded by a naming of your sins to God. This restores you to fellowship with God (1John 1:8–10). If there are people around, you would name these sins silently. If there is no one around, then it does not matter if you name them silently or whether you speak aloud. Document Navigation Preface Quotations Outline of Chapter Charts, Graphics, Short Doctrines Doctrines Alluded to Chapters Alluded to Dictionary of Terms Introduction First Verse Addendum A Complete Translation Chapter Word Clouds Links to the completed chapters of Deuteronomy are found here (HTML) (PDF).
    [Show full text]
  • Numbers 16 — Deuteronomy 3
    Challenge 2014: Bible in a Year Week 7: Numbers 16 — Deuteronomy 3 (February 9 — 15) Summary: Deuteronomy Korah's rebellion is one that is cited again in the New Deuteronomy, or "the second law," which is what its Testament in Jude 11 as an example of people from within the name means in Greek, is just that, a retelling of the law of God congregation of the faithful who were following their own passions to the people. The second giving sets it apart only in that here and not submitting to the command of God. It is a devastating we find more description and explanation of practical situations judgment. Here, God consumes those seeking to overthrow Moses where these laws are to be applied. Many scholars argue that with fire and then opens the earth up and swallows their families. Deuteronomy forms a Constitution for the nation of Israel once Even after the destruction of these wicked people, God sends a it will be formed. It certainly contains the kind of covenantal plague that kills over 14,000 people who grumbled at Moses and structure that will shape later constitutions. Aaron for the way God judged the people. In principle, this book is structured around a series Even so, there is given to us a wonderful glimmer of of sermons that Moses preaches to the people on the ten hope, for we are reminded in Numbers 26:11 that the sons of commandments. He begins, though, with a recap of the trip that Korah did not die. God would preserve these men in spite of God has led them on.
    [Show full text]
  • The Land and the Bible
    The Land and the Bible A Historical Geographical Companion to the Satellite Bible Atlas Version 5, September 2013 by Bill Schlegel The Land and the Bible: A Historical Geographical Companion to the Satellite Bible Atlas Copyright © 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 by Bill Schlegel. All rights reserved. ~B'lib. ytir"AT ~[; qd<c, y[ed>yO yl;ae W[m.vi WTx'Te-la; ~t'poDUGImiW vAna/ tP;r>x, War>yTi-la; ss' ~lek.ayO rm,C,k;w> v[' ~lek.ayO dg<B,k; yKi ~yrIAD rAdl. yti['WvywI hy<h.Ti ~l'A[l. ytiq'd>ciw> ישעיה נ"א: 7-8 Unless indicated as the author's translation – Scripture taken form the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org References appear as in-text parenthesis, e.g. (Merrill 25), indicating the name of the author (or title) and page number of the work cited. In-text references appearing in The Land and the Bible are as follows: Aharoni Aharoni, Yohanan. The Land of the Bible. London: Burns and Oates, 1962 (revised 1979). ANET Pritchard, James (ed.). Ancient Near Eastern Texts. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1969 (3rd edition). Antiquities Josephus Flavius (William Whiston translation). Antiquities of the Jews. BAR Biblical Archaeology Review Beitzel Beitzel, B. The New Moody Atlas of Bible. Chicago: Moody, 2009. Bimson Bimson, John. Redating the Exodus and Conquest. Sheffield: Almond Press, 1981. Merrill Merrill, Eugene. Kingdom of Priests, 2nd edition. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Transcription of 16ID1736 Deuteronomy 2&3 “Learning Where
    Transcription of 16ID1736 Deuteronomy 2&3 “Learning Where Victory Is Found” March 2, 2016 Let’s open our Bibles this evening, shall we, to Deuteronomy 2 as we continue in our favorite book of the Bible and join Moses who is 120 years old now. It is 1407 B.C. or so, and Moses is down to his final few weeks before heading home to glory. He has run the race well. He has finished well. He comes to the finish line kind of hobbled but determined. And he sets before a second generation a review of their history in lessons that he wants to be sure they’ve learned from watching their families (the first generation out of Egypt) die in the wilderness and what God wants to do with them now going forward. We mentioned last week that this is a book delivered in forty days. We know that from the day they entered into the Promised Land and the day that Moses began this book. So, forty days of teaching. I don’t know how many sessions or how many hours he spent with them going over this. Thirty days after he was taken by the Lord home (mourning before) Joshua then took the people into the land. Sometimes people call the book of Deuteronomy a book of remembrance, and that’s okay if you were nineteen years old when you were turned away at the door. But a lot of these kids had been born during those forty years in wandering in the wilderness, and for them, it’s not really a rehashing but just a teaching of some of the things that they were supposed to remember.
    [Show full text]
  • Unforgettable Characters #1 and #2 by Lloyd Anderson
    Unforgettable Characters #1 and #2 By Lloyd Anderson Lloyd Anderson: We're beginning today a series of studies on the subject of the unforgettable characters of the word of God and certainly all of these unforgettable characters of God's word have an unforgettable truth for today. I'm sure we recognize that God has given us the messages of various people in the word of God in order that we might profit thereby and realize that the Lord is seeking to teach us a great deal when he gives us these stories of men and women, who across the years of biblical history, have either been a tremendous help, or who have been evil in the sight of the Lord, and they have been given for our spiritual profit. Now, today, we're going to begin our series, which goes through December and January and February, and we're going to begin with Numbers chapter 22. And if you have your Bibles, would you turn to the 22nd chapter of the book of Numbers? And I'd like to read just a few verses, beginning with verse 1. "And the children of Israel set forward and pitched in the plains of Moab. On this side, Jordan by Jericho. And Balak, the son of Zippor, saw all that Israel had done to the Emirates. And Moab was so afraid of the people, because they were many, and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, 'Now shall this company lick up all that around about us as the ox licketh up the grass of the field.' And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
    [Show full text]
  • Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} How Moses Got to the Promised
    Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} How Moses Got to the Promised Land: and other Reflections on the Pilgrimage of Moses by Earl C Davis Aug 06, 2010 · How Moses Got to the Promised Land: and other Reflections on the Pilgrimage of Moses [Davis, Earl C] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. How Moses Got to the Promised Land: and other Reflections on the Pilgrimage of MosesAuthor: Earl C DavisFormat: PaperbackReflection: Pilgrimage – SSJEhttps://www.ssje.org/2018/11/16/pilgrimageNov 16, 2018 · The thread picks up with the most formative experience of salvation in the Hebrew Scriptures: the story of the Exodus, which is essentially a forty-year pilgrimage. God’s people are enslaved in Egypt, brutalized by Pharaoh, and God raises up Moses to be their savior. And Moses leads them on an epic journey across the desert, to the Promised Land. Moses was discouraged because he was too impressed by Pharaoh and not impressed enough by God. 2. The God of the covenant confirms His promise. And God spoke to Moses and said to him: "I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name LORD I was not known to them. I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage… Moses, when the battle was raging, held up his arms to heaven, with the rod of God in his hand; and thus Israel overcame Amalek. Hence a notion got abroad through the world that in times of difficulty or danger the mightiest weapon a man can make use of is prayer.
    [Show full text]
  • BFNK Sunday 25 Oct 2020 Readings Deut 34
    BFNK Sunday 25th Oct 2020 Readings Deut 34: 1-12 The death of Moses Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Mount Pisgah east of Jericho, and there the LORD showed him the whole land: the territory of Gilead as far north as the town of Dan; 2 the entire territory of Naphtali; the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh; the territory of Judah as far west as the Mediterranean Sea; 3 the southern part of Judah; and the plain that reaches from Zoar to Jericho, 4 the city of palm trees. Then the LORD said to Moses, “This is the land that I promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob I would give to their descendants. I have let you see it, but I will not let you go there.” 5 So Moses, the LORD's servant, died there in the land of Moab, as the LORD had said 6 he would. The LORD buried him in a valley in Moab, opposite the town of Bethpeor, but to this day no one knows the exact place of his burial. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died; he was as strong as ever, and his eyesight was still good. 8 The people of Israel mourned for him for thirty days in the plains of Moab. 9 Joshua son of Nun was filled with wisdom, because Moses had appointed him to be his successor. The people of Israel obeyed Joshua and kept the commands that the LORD had given them through Moses.
    [Show full text]
  • Tour of the Holy Lands - Moab
    Tour of the Holy Lands - Moab Mount Nebo We left the hotel in Amman, Jordan and drove into the countryside. Soon we were on our way up one of the most famous mountains in the world, Mount Nebo, on the mountain range called Mount Pisgah. As for Moses, after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, he and the children of Israel finally arrived at the edge of the Promised Land. Soon they would cross over the Jordan River. Moses would no longer lead them. Instead, Joshua would lead them. Moses climbed up here for his one and only look at the new land. Tour of the Holy Lands - Moab Page 1 of 18 www.biblewise.com Copyright © 2009, BibleWise. All Rights Reserved. The Great Sea (Mediterranean) JUDAH Jerusalem Mount Tabor Transfiguration Dead Sea Sea of Jordan River Galilee Elijah & Whirlwind Elijah & Ravens Plains of Moab Mount Nebo We now step out on that same mountaintop with the same view. The Bible draws us a word picture which spans 160 miles from North to South. We point and say, “Look, there’s Mount Tabor - the place of the Transfiguration. Look, there's the place where Elijah went up in a whirlwind.” Moses saw it, too. At 120 years old, his eyesight was still good and he was still strong, but he would never walk in that land. Was he disappointed? Maybe, but he had finished what he started. He had led his people to the Promised Land. The Bible says that Moses was buried in a nearby valley. But the tomb was never found.
    [Show full text]